CHANCE OF STORMS THIS WEEK: A CME launched by yesterday's slow-motion solar flare (described below) is expected to pass near Earth on June 15th. Geomagnetic storms are possible if the CME makes contact. NOAA forecasters say minor G1-class storms are likely, with a chance for G2 (moderate) and a slight chance of G3 (strong) storms. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
LONG-DURATION SOLAR FLARE AND CME: Growing sunspot AR3032 exploded on June 13th (0407 UT), producing an M3-class solar flare that lasted nearly 8 hours from beginning to end. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the slow-motion blast:
Extreme ultraviolet radiation from the flare ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a shortwave radio blackout over Japan and southeast Asia: blackout map. Radio operators in the area may have noticed unusual propagation effects at frequencies below 30 MHz for more than an hour after the flare's peak.
Also, the explosion hurled a magnificent CME into space, according to coronagraphs onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). Click to set the scene in motion:
NOAA analysts have determined that the CME will pass near Earth later this week, possibly delivering a glancing blow to our planet's magnetosphere. Their simulation suggests an arrival time of 0900 UT on June 15th. Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are likely if and when the CME makes contact. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
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